Ref ruins run in as Boro's winless run continues

by Redcar Red, posted in Uncategorized

Bright Spring sunshine bathed the Riverside with a warm glow at least for those of us in the North, South and East Stands. The atmosphere was building nicely beforehand with both sets of fans finding their voices no doubt aided by some liquid refreshment to quell the heat stress. Boro as suspected went with three at the back perhaps as a deliberate tactic or the fact that it was barrel bottom scraping time when it came to defenders.

In fairness the three at the back put in a display that was unrecognisable from the showing on Wednesday night. They contained the twin Burnley strike threat of Gray and Barnes comfortably and rarely looked too stretched. Ayala in particular looked to be getting back into his stride, it was just as well because Barnes clearly had instructions to rough him up and the two of them were constantly “embracing” in the first half with the Ref Martin Atkinson eventually having to speak to the pair.

The tempo in the first half was mostly from Boro with Barragan and Downing pushed up high in a midfield five with Grant, Clayts and Forshaw central. With those three policing the centre of the pitch Burnley struggled to make any impression in the middle ground and Stewy and Barragan were under clear instructions to get down the flanks and ping crosses in for Gestede presumably with the hope that Stuani would pick up the stray balls. I picked the word “stray” deliberately as while Gestede would rise majestically and beat Keane in the air there was very little that came from the second phase immediately afterwards. Stuani like the entire Boro side put in a battling performance, chasing, closing down, looking for opportunities, full of running and willing to get in blocks and tackles but nothing where it counted.

In all honesty there wasn’t a solitary bad performance from anyone in Red and there was a lot of endeavour, energy and determination on display, Barragan had probably his best game. Clayts and Grant bossed and snarled determined to not go down with a whimper. Forshaw was a little quieter first half but put a shift in. Boro’s new formation looked as though it had Dyche on the back foot for much of the first half as Boro constantly thrust forwards but the quality at the sharp end in finishing was where we fizzled out. In fairness Burnley are well drilled and disciplined and breaking them down was never going to be easy but we did just lack that spark, an individual bit of magic.

There were decent chances, a ball from Stewy flashed across the six yard box but there was no red sock to toe poke home when we needed it. Boyd had a chance but missed the target fortuitously whilst a free kick looked to me to be finger tipped by a diving Valdes onto the crossbar but the Ref seen it as a miss and so a corner was avoided. Speaking of corners there was an altercation which consisted of Ward trying to barge into Valdes protected by Barragan who pushed and jostled back and then a right arm flew out from Ward leaving Barragan prostrate with Martin Atkinson giving a foul to Boro meaning he clearly seen something but decided to bottle giving a red card for the first time this afternoon.

Despite overwhelming possession and balls fizzing into the Burnley box with regular aplomb the first half finished 0-0. I remarked at half time that whilst our endeavours were certainly heartening the Sun would eventually take its toll in the final 20 minutes unless we had something to hang on to. If there was a criticism it was that we sometimes laboured in possession instead of springing out quickly but after Wednesday night the cautious trio in the middle could be forgiven.

The second half started with Boro again going for it but the lack of an outlet and creativity was starting to become glaringly obvious plus the exertion and heat was starting to take effect as predicted. Negredo came on around 60 minutes for Stuani who hadn’t had many chances but let Burnley know they were in a game.

Whilst understandable and Negredo’s intent almost getting himself booked within a few minutes of entering the fray the lack of a “spark” seemed the greater need. Ten minutes later, on seventy minutes (and probably ten or fifteen minutes too late) Traore came on for the tiring Gestede. Finally we had a bit of spark with Adama playing centrally and a burst  through the Burnley defence shortly after leaving three in his wake seen him set up Clayton with a chance for glory and rip the net open but he disappointingly chipped it neatly into the arms of Heaton. Stewy got around the back of their defence worked a cross in and Negredo’s acrobatic overhead kick saw Heaton pull off the save of the day.

Another ball in the box saw an Ayala header cleared off the line for it to fall to Negredo who put the ball in the back of the net but Atkinson had ruled for a free kick in favour of Burnley who had Barton laid out cold after Ayala’s innocuous challenge about thirty seconds previously. It looked to me like the Officials bottled awarding the goal as a player was laid out in the six yard box who then miraculously after magic sponge intervention rose from the dead.

Grant had been clattered into with a two footed lunge but jumped up immediately saving the offending Burnley player a straight Red in sharp contrast to the actions of Barton. The last throw of the dice seen Bamford come on and almost immediately latch onto a through ball to be upended by last man Keane for a straight Red yet remarkably a free kick was awarded along with a yellow. Downing then had his effort curling into the top corner cleared off the line by Lowton, another day and an entirely different ending. Bamford again broke clean through but this time a last ditch sliding tackle saved Burnley’s blushes from their former reject’s revenge.

MOM undoubtedly were the Boro supporters who were loud and loyal throughout, on the pitch there were signs of optimism albeit probably too late to save us now. On the pitch Grant probably just edged it with his graft and never say die spirit. 0-0 and another blank sheet but a far better performance which maybe just needed some injection a little earlier but all in all something that at least showed the players still care. Just a shame that the Ref was more concerned about Dyche’s after match responses than following the laws of the game.

148 thoughts on “Ref ruins run in as Boro's winless run continues”

  3. Summed up my thoughts RR but when I listened to the callers on Tees and read the usual social media sites I thought I’d been to a different game they were so scathing of the players and management. “Same old same old,no passion,Gestede lazy,”
    I thought it was an entertaining game in contrast to a lot of the boring dross we’ve seen under Karanka. We crossed the halfway line,we created chances and were unlucky not to score a couple foiled by clearances off the line,goalkeeper and bad refereeing decisions.
    The much maligned Ayala is improving with each ninety minutes how fans expected him to pick up where he left off last May when he’s been frozen out for the first seven months of this season is beyond me.
    Two points in our week of destiny was disappointing and poor. If only the Gestede header had gone in at Swansea,if only we had held on to the lead at Hull or at least salvaged a draw,if only one of the goal line clearances had gone in yesterday,we would have had a glimmer of hope.
    People may not be happy with the current managerial set up but there is improvement and they have changed the way we play I think for the better but Karankas exit was too late to give us a fighting chance.

  4. Thanks to Redcar Red for the report but where is everyone? It is either the sun or the gloom.
    You know the writing is on the wall when you get no good luck, no decisions going your way.

  5. I enjoyed my first visit in 3 Years. I thought the crowd were excellent throughout despite the predicament we find ourselves in. It was a game between a team who don’t know how to win and one who didn’t want to win. Burnley were continually slowing the game down, even in the first half Dyche was signalling to slow it down. The game would not have been out of place in the championship as would the referee. I think that the goal was disallowed for hand ball against Negredo.

  6. When you are down you just keep getting kicked and I think it must be true that you make your own luck, Burnley certainly seem to have done.
    As ‘Nevergiveup’ says the change was made too late and to rely on luck and other teams faltering is not a good plan. The plan we should be formulating is for next season in the Championship so that we make a good start.
    Managerial set-up and team? Who knows?
    Mr Gibson please make a proper shirt part of the plan too.
    UTB,
    John

  7. Great write-up as always – so refreshing to read a report that’s partisan but not blinkered, even-handed without demanding to fit the pre-conceived idea that Boro are the most boring team ever invented, which I’ve come across too many times.
    I listened to this one on Boro+ – sadly had 0-0 written all over it, but at least the side gave it a go and tried hard, something I haven’t been able to say week in, week out. A shame that when it comes down to it we weren’t good enough and haven’t been all season. Who’s to blame for that is clearly the subject of a season’s post-mortem that will be endless and soul searching, but when the team is prepared to fight for a result then it doesn’t seem quite as bad. Otherwise I’m sure we are all looking forward to it being over. Watching the sad drama unfold is agonising and leaves me feeling exhausted 🙁

  8. I think it’s time to put aside finger-pointing and scapegoating and simply look forward. Admit that AKBoro simply didn’t work out in the PL and move on. Otherwise we never will.
    The trouble is, even as our results drag us closer to the fat lady singing, she still refuses to. We can’t just throw the season because circumstances won’t let us. The agony, it appears, must be prolonged. As it was when a 4-0 win at West Ham in 2009 would have kept Wimpgate up.

  9. Great report as usual RR.
    Agree with Mike, we’re just not good enough and can’t wait for this disappointing season to end but will be back next year with the hope that we can “give it a real go” and look forward to some entertainment. Good defensive play is to be admired but goals are the lifeblood of the game (IMHO).

  10. To the head, structure is paramount and good teams build from the back. To the heart, goals are football’s oxygen and the more the merrier.
    But it’s not always so merry. I would have happily taken a 1-0 win after Negredo’s early goal on Wednesday.

  11. In his 4 games in charge Agnew has changed tactics and formations more times than AK did in 3 full years. If we take heart from yesterdays formation, put Chambers right, Ayala central and Gibson left in a back 3 then a fit Fabio wide right and a fully fit again Friend (he hasn’t been properly fit in my opinion since the end of the Championship) left I am sure we would see a more dynamic and stronger Boro.
    3 CB’s plus those two wide men gives plenty of attacking intent from the flanks and the ability to get back, defend in numbers and hang onto results. Three of those preferred options are not fit to pick so SA has had to make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.
    Put Grant and Clayts central with Downing just in front of them to pick out a front three of Traore, Bamford and Negredo would give us plenty of impetus, creativity and opportunity as we need to try and win games now, draws are of little value as the games run down. I thought Bamford looked back to his old self in his 10 short minutes on the pitch with two opportunities one of which was a cynical scything down and the most obvious Red card I will ever see.
    Lobbing balls up to Gestede didn’t work, the lad hasn’t got the close control ball skills to make a difference at this level. He should be retained for a plan B with 10 or 15 minutes left only.

  12. The red card incident has just been proved it wasn’t one.
    As you can see From tv replays Keane slips and accidentally brings Bamford down. Under this seasons new rules accidentally instead of intentional hacking down only brings a yellow card. Kammy said it’s the first time an incident like this has happened this season.
    When your lucks down it’s down. Typical for Boro

    1. Charlie Nicholas on Sky said he thought Keane slipped, if that’s the case then I hope our defenders practice their “slipping” skills in the few remaining games, “honest Ref I wanted to let him clean through but my studs gave way”.
      I was sat looking right down the barrel behind the goal and saw Keane’s face, he intended to make sure that Bamford didn’t get through and he achieved his objective. Keane was well beaten, Bamford’s control was exquisite and Keane knew he was about to pull the trigger. In real time it looked nothing like a slip and I still believe it was cynical.
      After having seen it again and again on the internet it still looks like a cynical one for the team to me, even Keane himself said he was sweating. The only “slip” was in slipping trying to take Bamford out. It was an incredible and fortuitous piece of accidental hacking down but “Typical Boro” of course!

    2. Never give up
      If you freeze the image you will notice that the defender was caught cold, without a prayer, and that included grabbing the hand of the attacker, giving him a shove, and, of course, the old favourite, grabbing his shirt, no part of the defender could even touch the attacker who was in full possession of the ball(a lovely first touch, by the way)
      At this point he did what had to be done, hurled himself at the feet of Branford, his story of slipping was pure guff, he did a sliding (note the use of the word sliding) tackle and cleaned out Branford. Here’s the thing, he expected to be sent off, and it would have been a bargain, a point for a red card, its known as taking one for the team.
      As for your acceptance of any rule made by the FA . You should know by now that those heroes have no idea just how devious the average footballer is. In the Box they are as quick thinking (and acting) as a rattle snake and no handball or slip or bump or trip is ever accidental, ever, period.
      The inclusion of the get out phrase(accidental) is an insult to every supporter, it simply means the clean out can go on and the referee’s do not have to send off the player.
      Incidentally, what about the assault on our man on the goal line, good, or what?
      The worthless clown(sorry top class referee) had to have seen it, was going to let it pass, was told by the fourth official, gave a free kick, was told that he had to book him(much later) and saved him from a red card when it was revved.

    1. Phil
      It’s what they said on Goals on Sunday,new rules that were introduced this season so what looked a bad decision was actually the correct one

      1. To more important football matters
        My grandsons county team have released details of their match in the final at Preston also the game against Boro at Rockliffe
        All bloggers who would like to come are welcome
        Confirmed: U16 Northern Counties FA Final between Lancashire and Cleveland will he played on Sat 6th May at Padiham FC (near Burnley) with an 11:30am kick off.
        More details regarding the squad and transport to be confirmed this week.
        Also, a friendly game v MFC Academy on Tuesday 25th April 6pm at Rockliffe. Full squad to meet at 5:15pm

  14. I didn’t need the replay. The first time I saw it I noticed Keane slipped. It could have gone either way, admittedly, but when your luck is out your luck is out.

  15. Valdes & Negredo.
    Frustrate though they may in their reliability, or lack of it, their ability to save/score or win matches is second to none. Many of Valdes’ saves have been quite special, most of Negredo’s goals, assists or near-misses, top drawer.
    In an ideal world you’d combine them with Dimi/Given & Nugent respectively and get the ideal forward, but this isn’t the ideal world. Who was it who said, the greater a footballer’s ability, the more fallible they are?
    Look at Gazza. A busted flush at Boro yet he could still fire home a free kick like no one else at the club.

  16. RR, great report as always but I am not sure I would be quite so positive about the performance.
    As “Nevergive up” says, it might have been entertaining compared with the dross under Karanka but please let’s not kid ourselves, it was still a below average performance and a poor result against a team that is no great shakes. The Sunday Times reporter called the Boro performance “lacklustre” and it was certainly that in a game where you would have hoped the team would be really fired up to go all out to win.
    As for Agnew, while he has tried different tactics and formations since taking over from Karanka, he has still only delivered 2 points out of 9 in what was billed as the critical week of fixtures if EPL status was to stand any chance of being retained. Whether he should stay to manage the team in the Championship (if we find ourselves in that league next season) is for me very debatable. He was part of the Karanka set up and can never remove his association from that ultimately unsuccessful and in my view discredited management structure.
    I would like to see a clear out in the summer of all those in key positions under Karanka – team management, scouting, fitness, coaches – and the early appointment of people to these jobs with the necessary experience of getting into the EPL and staying there. Once appointed they can set about getting rid of the mercenaries in the squad and the players deemed surplus to requirements. There will also no doubt be players leaving for substantial transfer fees and the new management team will have to replace these too. Once it is decided who is leaving the new management can work on bringing in the right players who will bust a gut to get the Boro back to the EPL as quickly as possible.
    Will this happen? I doubt it and as a result I can see a long, hard struggle ahead until the realisation dawns that something has to be done to sweep away the Karanka legacy and start anew.

  17. Boroexile
    I don’t think and never did think that Aggers was part of AK’s team. It always looked pretty clear to me that he was a Steve Gibson appointment. The conversations or lack of them on the bench indicated the same to me way before AK left the club. To me Agnew looked like someone who was placed there by the Chairman who the Head Coach had to put up with. AK surrounded himself with his own entourage but Agnew definitely didn’t look like part of AK’s chosen inner sanctum.
    Going further I would say that at best Agnew was tolerated by AK. After “Higgygate” AK knew (as we all did thanks to Steve Bruce because of the well publicised package offered to Agnew at the time) that Agnew’s tenure wasn’t negotiable. I suspect that as much as SG has come in for criticism he realised that AK had an achilles heel and he wanted a reliable plan B for the club should the inevitable meltdown occur.
    As regards SA’s performance the team has certainly been playing brighter and more entertaining football. Anyone who expected a miraculous turnaround in playing style and results hasn’t understood the tight almost demonic control and mindset that AK had instilled upon the entire squad for over three years. That is not particularly a criticism it just happened to be AK’s preferred chosen style and to a degree it worked. Changing that doctrine was never going to be easy for any new Manager and indeed it still has value and merit that the team if required can fall back upon.
    Focussing upon Agnew’s actual performance in his 4 games he has won 0, drew 2 and lost 2. In his last 6 games AK managed 0 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. Neither set of figures are exactly breathtaking but in our last ten games (AK’s 6, SA’s 4 games) we are bottom of the Premiership form table.
    http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/middlesbrough/form/ten
    In our last four games under SA we are 4th from Bottom or put another way 17th, not fantastic but small progress.
    http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/middlesbrough/form/four
    Granted this was our week of destiny/disappointment but then so was the entire month of January which was when we were supposed to be able to bank some points for the tough run-in that never materialised. Its not great but I do see some improvements despite Wednesdays nightmare. If and when SA stops progressing especially when he gets our recognised back line fit again then we can judge him harshly and no doubt will.

    1. RR, it doesn’t matter whether Agnew was “part of AK’s team” or not or whether he was a Steve Gibson appointment barely tolerated by AK. He has been a member of the team management during a season which has turned out to be a massive disappointment and which is now almost certain to end in relegation. He must therefore take some of the responsibility for the shambles that has unfolded and the excuse that it was all down to Karanka won’t wash.
      Because of his association with the Karanka regime he can never be the new broom that brings the fundamental change that I believe the club needs and should therefore not be retained as manager beyond the end of the season.

      1. If you take that approach then surely Neil Bausor and Steve Gibson himself should also go?
        Not everything is/was bad, the defence record is one of the best in the division even accepting that it was to the detriment of everything else but if we are to assume that everything AK touched was a disaster then fine but I don’t believe that to be the case at all as much as he frustrated the heck out of me
        This is the strongest league globally and it looks like we are only the 18th or 19th best team in that league, I don’t think that’s a reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater despite the likelihood of relegation. We don’t know what went on behind closed doors. Higgy disagreed allegedly and went, Agnew has never struck me as an AK “type” but maybe he was a better politician than Higgy and was more astute than we are giving him credit. If indeed he was put in place by Gibson for this exact potential scenario then why on earth would SG now get rid of him, that wouldn’t make any sense at all. I seem to recall McClaren, AK and Mogga getting off to slowish starts and even Fat Sam. The timing may have been better but that isn’t Agnew’s fault.
        Continuity works for many clubs, the old Liverpool boot room worked until they started bringing in outsiders and the club have never recovered their former status. Matt Busby’s reign descended into chaos when he retired from Old Trafford and there was no continuity. Arguably that same lack of continuity is why Man United are not the dominant force they once were now just a few season back hence sitting down with the devil himself, Mourinho ironically their arch enemy during Fergie’s reign. Their revolving door management policy dragged them down. Each new manager wanting and entire entourage of their own support team and each time they go the Clubs playing management infrastructure invariably goes with them.
        Granted Chelsea and Man City change their managers with each passing season throwing the continuity argument out of the window but having multi Billionaires bankrolling transfer spend and wage bills does help to mitigate. We all know that despite Steve Gibson’s considerable hard earned wealth he doesn’t own any Oil wells and isn’t remotely in that league. What happens next at Arsenal will be very interesting when Wenger departs.
        I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a new Coach does arrive over the Summer but I would equally think Agnew will remain if he shows between now and the end of the season that he has something about him. One key thing to remind ourselves in all of this is who is immediately available and of them who would we want? Pearson or Redknapp (if he would travel North which is unlikely), Alan Pardew perhaps? Hiddink or Ranieri may be willing but for how much and how long will it take them to settle in and how much will they want to spend versus what SG can afford?
        It is entirely possible that a “big name” Manager has been approached and is willing to come in principal but not willing to have his reputation tarnished by a relegation on his CV. Stay up and he comes, go down and he’s not interested? Most of those Coaches/Managers have left Clubs under some sort of cloud at one time in their careers and there is no guarantee that their Boro tenure guarantees anything.
        If we do go down despite AK’s boring brand of football it did eventually get us up after 7 long dreary years. Perhaps Agnew continuing in the same AK vein is SG’s trump card should we go down.

  18. Redcar Red
    I think comparing AK and SA will only result in herrings of the Redcar hue.
    Under AK we should have got more points out of Leicester home and away, Burnley and Manu away. Under SA we should have got more points from our week of despair.
    The injuries to key defenders has afflicted both coaches, the Ramirez factor affected both’s selection plans.
    Whether SA was imposed on AK is supposition.
    There are, however, some constants. We have little pace, guile or tempo in the squad. We have little premiership experience in the squad.
    New manager bounce? Palace – eventually, Hull, Swansea have more experience and players capable of influencing matches. Hull were very active in the window and brought in some real pace and skill when Silva came in.
    AK had to go, absolutely. Can we judge SA in his short time in charge? Absolutely not, He was dealt the same hand as AK and I cant see many pictures or trumps in those cards.
    AK alienated players and fans, taxi please, end of story. If he left after his tantrum at the close of the window it wouldn’t change the quality of the squad.
    It appears I am criticising the players, far from it, they are doing the best they can, I cant stand fans saying they are not trying.

    1. Pretty much agree with all that Ian except the injuries to key defenders bit .
      The Ayala rumours persist (was he, wasn’t he?) and the Chambers “recovery” to play against Oxford leaves me speechless (apart from an incredulous foul mouthed rant). Losing Fabio when the squad was down to its bare bones was a difficulty AK didn’t have to deal with.
      On the “English imposition”, SA is still here but Cachada and co. have gone. That to me adds to the supposition. The return of Woody appears on the surface at least to lend just a tad of credence to it as well.

  19. Thanks for the report RR as I only saw the second half. Agreed about Bamford, thought he looked as though he would score goals given a run.
    However I did not see the same as you RR, certainly in mid field. Barton as much as do not like the guy was far ahead of our players. Grant just does have the legs any more.
    Yes plenty of endevour and fight accepted but there were defenders who will probably be still with us next year who are not good enough for the Championship.
    SA has tried to change things around and I am covinced SG will give him the chance next season.
    Will he be good enough, a big gamble they all are, but I am not convinced.

    1. Pedro
      In the first half Barton was largely anonymous as Grant and Clayts supported meekly by Forshaw kept Burnley under pressure. The second half did see Burnley get more of a foothold until our subs arrived but overall I thought that apart from conning the Ref that he was out cold Barton didn’t do a lot.
      My main beef about our Midfielders is their reluctance to shoot, trying to pass it into the net or when they do actually shoot their accuracy is woeful. Clayton’s effort yesterday was so tame that it had about much bite as a Chihuahua puppy. That is a definite weakness and like him or loathe him de Roon does at least pop up and contribute with the odd attempt.

  20. Thanks RR great review my take on the next season is stick with SA and the rest of the coaching team, then recall our loan players who seem to be getting rave reviews. Then give some of our promising young academy players a place in the main squad and instill the boro ethos in them. We do not need players who think they are here to be paid by the boro and not play for them. If and when we get promoted give the lads who got us there a chance and not buy foreign players with no experience of the EPL, that imho was the reason we have had such a poor season so far. Last seasons squad must of lost a bit of heart when the likes of Valdes, Negrado, De Roon as good as they are came in especially as it took them a few games to bed in. The likes of Dimi and the outfield players they replaced could of got us more points on the board,and the moral would of been higher than it was. The more they say every thing is hunky dory the more you know it isn’t, you only have to look at their body language to see the truth and my eyesight is very poor that’s why I sit near the away dugout. I hope my grammar is up to scratch as the blogs that are wrote on here are of the highest standard and I hope I have not let you all done UTB

      1. I second OFB, Boro Brie. Though I cheddar to think how Boro can improve. We thought we’d be the Red Leicester and have grins like Cheshire Cats, but do all the personnel give edam like we do?
        (Puns inspired by: Anthony McCarthy.)

  21. Redcar Red Herring
    My post was about the fact that post January a change of manager would have little impact. Truth is post September we had a trundling squad that set the tone.
    It doesn’t absolve AK, Gibbo or the recruitment team but you cant expect SA or AK to do much come February with the squad available.

  22. Story from Frank Lampard on GOS this morning
    As a young 16 year old lad his dad had watched him in a game and he came off thinking he played well.
    His dad said he had a terrible game,he’d just stood in midfield passing easy sideways passes. He said if he wanted to make something of himself he had to get up the field and score some goals too.. Frank Jnr also said unless he got into double figures he considered he’d had a bad season
    Our midfielders take note!

  23. There was a reason top Spanish teams accommodated Matas, Silvas and Iniestas as well as Xavis, Busquetses and Alonsos.
    Character, strong positional sense and being able to pass sideways accurately, even beautifully, on its own will never, ever be enough in midfield.

  24. Just returned after having missed the three most imprtant games of the season. I see I didnt miss much.
    Never mind, next season there should be hope and optimisim – theres always a next season and always typical Boro.
    If the other games go in our favour then of course we can always hope on the last game of the season but I am hoping that it is all over by then so we can just relax and prepare for another 7 years.

  26. The position Boro are in it’s like entering a strange form of limbo, I suppose basically we’re all waiting to be put out of our misery. The results don’t matter but they do matter so I suppose in a way we’re all gathered around a Premier League deathbed really. When will it happen.
    There have been opportunities and brief flashes of hope but the inevitable gets ever closer, typically I hope Boro can cause some trouble in those last few matches against the big boys.
    That would put a smile on our faces and lift the mood.
    Either way, UTB,
    John

  27. Maddo made a comment on Saturday post game, that basically Ramirez got us promotion last season,
    A little over the top but I do agree he made a big difference because he was technically superior to most.
    What was really meant was ,you must have players who are at least on the same level as the opposition in the premiership, a club like the Boro obviously can’t afford fifteen quality players of top caliber but you do need three or four, take Mahrez and Vardy out of Leciester over a full season would struggle,you can look at other teams too.
    So what?
    Well this is were the frustration is with ,how management has dealt with things this season,none of us expected​ Steve Gibson to spend fifty millions on players, you don’t have to to finish seventeenth,it’s how you spend what you can and on whom,
    Twelve million on De Roon ,although I like the buy ,too expensive, a Stephens from Brighton, for eight maybe ,would have been sound ,five on Fischer a project? better spent on Forrestieri, Sheffield W, talent.
    This is why there should be some kind of overalling of the backroom staff, this kind of thing as been happening for far too long!
    UTB

  29. We keep talking about goals, but anyone who watches match of the day, will see lots of players who are extremely fast and have one idea, to get off a shot, any shot, but they all get it on target, they all love the curler inside the far post, and they all love a dead ball, taking their time over them and expecting to score.
    Anyone who sees our players using any of the above tactics please tell me.

  31. Nigel
    The sun was like our sojourn in the premiership will be – a fleeting memory.
    The truth is, once the season ends we will look forward to the fixture list being released. For me there is the prospect of trips to Derby, Forest, Wolves, Villa, Wednesday, SheffU, Barnsley, Brum, Burton.
    I don’t really mean any of that, the season is turning in to a shocker.
    My son and I were talking about the transfer window and he asked why on earth we bought who we did. The best I could up with was that it was like getting home late after a fortnight away knowing there is nothing in the fridge. You call in to the local late night shop and there is little on the shelves. You either buy what was there or go hungry.
    In our case it wasn’t even Winalot!

    1. Oh dear the rumours are flying thick and fast now as we would expect them to.
      Gibson selling the club and that is why it’s being sold
      A friend of a friend who works at the club says it
      My mate loves next door to one of the players and he said it
      So it must all be true
      All I can say to all these rumours is
      I don’t believe it but as Sean Connery said
      NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN

  32. Its a tricky one the Prem v Championship thing. In the Championship with Boro’s financial resources and management stability we should expect to compete in the top six.
    If we do we’ll all enjoy a good season, hopefully see a good number of goals scored and a lot of games won, albeit against sides no sexier than ourselves.
    In the Prem we visit all the sexy grounds/teams, although only a tiny minority of Boro fans get the chance to visit because away tickets are exclusively for season ticket holders (why, for gods sake?).
    At the Riverside we get to see us play/beaten by the sexy teams, is that fun? No, not really.
    The Prem for newly/recently promoted clubs is a grind, not a lot of fun in my opinion.
    Don’t get me wrong, I want Boro playing against the best, but I want us to be reasonably competitive. We haven’t come close to that this season.

  33. We can debate all day long over whether we just weren’t good enough or whether we had a sea of talent stifled by LOIS – Leader Of Inflexible Stubbornness – for too long.
    I think I know what the purists and idealists want to believe and the pragmatists and realists want to console themselves with. The truth is somewhere between the two.
    As an aside, for those who wonder why I picked a 0-0 draw – the one at Arsenal – as my moment of the season, three words. Timing, Manner, Circumstance. Timing of the result, manner of the result, circumstance in which the result was achieved.
    All three of TMC play a massive part in elevating results or performances that wouldn’t be anywhere near as big a deal on statistical merit alone. On statistical merit, we only drew. The bigger picture showed Adama, Ramirez and our defence all on song, a combination of Cech and the woodwork denying us goals, Victor Valdes taking a major step to finally shove the doubts down the throats of the #BringBackDimi-ers – what, no fairness and decency, people? – and after a time when we, and especially Aitor, had been mauled on TV and on social media.
    Really it was memorable because many were astonished that Boro could play and compete like that after all after limply folding at home to Watford. That, and I was in London while it happened. Made it all the more special.
    If we built on that, we could beat Bournemouth and get a good result at City, I felt. Lo and behold, we did both.

  35. Nigel
    Agreed. It’s why we haven’t come close that we really need to resolve.
    Many views on that score but the only person who can try to put it right is SG.
    Unfortunately, he has been faced with this problem far too often in recent times.
    As I’ve said numerous times, I don’t envy his task.

  36. Interesting, Palace with 25% possession but are 1-0 up.
    Difference to Boro? They have pace, power, flair and skill in the attacking areas of the pitch.
    End of story.

    1. Yes, it was really nice of the Boro to play so abysmally at Selhurst Park a few weeks ago and thereby give Palace a much needed boost in confidence. It will keep them in the EPL.

  37. Palace have upped the tempo and risen to the dizzy heights of 29% possession, AT HOME, but lead 3-0.
    I go back to my point, have we the skill to do the same?
    Louise Taylor can write all she likes about the defensive Karanka, it is the lack of quality that has done for us.
    Karanka wanted to play passing football. He didn’t have the players capable of making it work in the top flight. That doesn’t absolve him from criticism about micro management or recruitment because he was the manager nor about his inflexibility.
    It is too easy to blame AK for everything, he had enough on his charge sheet to see him off.
    He clearly failed because he got us promotion but we are now adrift. The table never lies.

  38. I know Karanka wanted to play passing football – and at times in the Championship we did play lovely passing football that I’d never, ever seen us play.
    The trouble is, when the momentum, belief and swagger vanishes there’s only one way to go.

    1. Karanka’s passing was perpetually sideways, always in our own half and statistics at the time backed it up. Remember Grant coming out mid way through the Championship saying that the fans needed to be more patient as they attempted to wear teams down and catch them near the end of games?
      It was passing to nowhere, passing paralysis, sideways and backwards nausea and heaven help anyone who passed forwards. Karanka naughty stepped or froze out anyone who attempted to be proactive, no wonder he didn’t have the required quality players.
      The defensive passing got us over the line but even the promotion season was hard to bear and dire to watch a lot of the time. This season was worse because the quality of the opposition Managers and Players outwitted him and he had no alternative tactic. Part was undoubtedly down to the recruitment and playing personnel but the quality was also Karanka’s responsibility and perhaps in part why those type of players didn’t want to come here. Pace, Power and flair players were not welcome in Karanka’s side until January when he realised the game was up.
      Watching Karanka’s passing style of Football was pure purgatory and those of us who had to watch it week in, week out deserved a bleedin medal. It achieved the promotion objective but at the expense of clogging up the Samaritans help line for nigh on 3 years on Teesside.

      1. “Naughty stepped or froze out anyone who attempted to be proactive…”
        So that was why Paddy Bam Bam scored those delightful goals v Ipswich, we thrashed Millwall at their place, unbeaten Brighton were turned over on their patch and Rhodes had significantly more chances than his goals. Etc. Etc. Etc.
        Each to their own, RR, but I don’t remember AKBoro’s passing being purgatory to me. At times it was sublime, and between 2014-16 we netted 157 times. So he must have been doing *something* right.

      2. Agreed Simon, and I’m not sure where someone like Ramirez fits into RR’s narrative either. The AK years were excellent and I have some great memories to take away from it. Purgatory is such a ridiculous description of it. (and am I the only one who cringes everytime someone talks about naughty stepping someone?)

      3. Simon
        There are a handful of games when we played some decent football, by the law of averages there had to be but our attempts at goal and on target tells the truth under AK. The fact that we can recall Ipswich away, Brighton away (to end their winning streak) and the mighty Millwall speaks volumes and that is it over two seasons! Nothing at all this season apart from one half at Sunderland and the same against Swansea which was apparently our worst performance (not my words).
        The methodology was effective in achieving promotion so as a means to an end it worked but it wasn’t good to watch, it was soul sapping and soul destroying. Its the reason I wasn’t going to renew my Season Card because quite frankly it was dire, hopeless and spiritless sterility to sit through at times last season and abysmal this season. There is a reason why Boro have occupied the last slot on football programmes because quite simply there was nothing entertaining to show.

      4. RR.
        All I know is this. Re-watching the home wins over Millwall, Derby and Ipswich – two of whom were promotion rivals at the time, note! – from 2014-15 showed concrete evidence of high octane pressing, creative team goals and high quality service to the target men through fine set pieces, good crosses or excellent passes.
        That, and 2014-15 was actually our joint third highest scoring season since 1995 – first was 1997-98 (93), second 1996-97 (92) and third 2005-06 and 2014-15 (85).
        AK can boast a 5-1, two 4-0s, two 4-1s and fourteen 3-0s on his managerial resume to go with 74 clean sheets. Not bad at all, is it?
        It was only when his luck ran out both on the pitch and in the transfer window – pre-Burnley A and Michael Keane’s late, late equaliser in April 2016, you would have bet on us to see out the games at West Ham, Leicester and United, clinching valuable wins in the process – that things turned ugly. When momentum and belief’s damaged or gone, no attacking player you need will believe that your team is a step up – and that’s arguably why Ramirez went more than off the boil and AK got none of his targets.
        I am not saying that what you say doesn’t hold value. I am merely saying that the myth that AKBoro didn’t know how to score goals, didn’t set out to win and focused on defending an early lead if they were lucky enough to get it is a lazy generalisation when evidence to the contrary blatantly exists.
        That, and I don’t remember any pitch invasions under McClaren.

      5. RR
        A couple of points are revealing, passing style in midfield, and catching teams near the end.
        We had worked out the great flaws in this scheme on this blog, and I will sumarise them now, first, passing in a well thought out system does work, but it must be at speed(great speed) and we did it very slowly,(on Saturday too, so nothing has been learned)
        Second, catch them late in the game, hmmm,
        If you are going to play none threatening football until late in the game, then the oposition will rest themselves until late in the game, then move into your defensive area and stay there,(lots of late goals, true, but most of them against you)
        You could say that the rubbish will love playing you(they have more weaknesses in their teams, and so love a quiet ninety minutes with a ten minute blast at the end)
        The very good teams just spend all the match attacking you(trying to boost their goals for column)
        If the above is true, then our record against the rubbish will be abysmal,
        Whilst our record against the top teams will be not too bad.
        I rest my case

  39. What did go wrong after Christmas? Because everything was in control result wise before that. We were on a point-per-match form until the Christmas time.
    We were not in chambles in 2017. We defended well and nicked a win occasionally. The results started to go wrong only after Christmas. So the first half of the season was OK.
    Still I have enjoyed the season as I can see most of the matches on TV. Even the passing sideways as that is needed occasionally. For the TV coverage the only place to be is the Premiership. But I would still support the Boro as much – or even more – if the worst happened in May.
    Why I said if? Because the funny thing is that we are NOT doomed yet. If we get a win or two, we are back in the mix. How terribly have the other teams played if we still have a chance?
    Up the Boro! The Boro can still survive.

  41. Redcar Red
    When I point out he wants to play passing football doesn’t mean I absolve him for his fair share of the blame. It was his framework, he coached the team, he was involved in recruitment. As manager his fair share got him moved out, and it was beyond time for him to do so.
    I was surprised he stayed after Charltongate. He got us promoted so he stayed.
    My concern was that AK going wouldn’t make a huge difference to the quality of the football. That doesn’t mean I thought he should stay. Other clubs have seen a bounce when the manager leaves, that is down to the players.

    1. In fairness to Aggers the football has been much better to watch, nothing great but on Saturday as an example we had 12 shots of which 5 were on target, that alone is a huge upgrade on where Karanka had us. Changing tactics as well as the mindset of the players, undoing all the instinctive keep possession, pass back mentality will take more than 4 games but the signs are there already that our strike rate has improved dramatically. On Saturday Aggers left it too late to bring Traore on and probably Bamford but at least he didn’t wait until the 87th minute.
      The Hull game was great for a neutral to watch, shame we got beat and tactically we were naive but when was the last time a neutral would have sat through a Boro game? We had deservedly become a humiliating joke on MOTD and will likely exit this league as the lowest goalscorers in its history. That’s some legacy to live down, let alone to have paid for the privilege to witness.
      Its taken Sam and Palace a few months to adjust, just a shame that we didn’t adjust sooner or indeed bring a proven survival expert in when he was available and we could clearly see that too many games had been surrendered or lost because of negativity.
      Watching a slow passing, possession game can be appreciated when the team teases the opposition out and opens up space then plays pin point killer passes through for strikers or midfielders to run onto but AK’s tactical handbook was clearly an old tatty edition with the last four chapters ripped out just where it began what to do over the half way line.

      1. “Watching a slow passing, possession game can be appreciated when the team teases the opposition out and opens up space then plays pin point killer passes through for strikers or midfielders to run onto…”
        Which, you know, happened in the Championship for the most part. And if his handbook really was just an old tatty edition than we wouldn’t have scored at all.
        Extremism just because of bitterness that the Premier League Dream (TM) we were born to live didn’t happen won’t help. AKBoro’s methodology, as Werder rightly said, just didn’t work for Boro in the Premier League. That should be the end of the story.

    2. Simon
      My views are in no way remotely Premiership extremism they were repeatedly expressed in the Championship about our lack of intent and sideways passing and also in the earlier part of this season way before our point a game average started dipping. Our goal scoring feat even in the Championship was not exactly earth shattering for a promoted team nor the play off season before despite Bamford’s Ravanesque contribution.
      It is not unique to AK’s Boro, Arsene’s boring Arsenal were the masters of binary football, just that I’d prefer to have my teeth pulled out than sit and have to watch it every week.

      1. Isn’t it more a “have it both ways” tactic that most managers use to get the right results, to get a team believing in themselves again? You know, get up and at or contain the opposition, give them a physical or tactical battle to contend with, so even if you don’t win, at least you can go home with either the consolation of a clean sheet, a point or little damage done to the goal difference.
        It’s a common safety method I’m convinced most managers use to prolong their careers.

      2. I agree it is a tactic used to build teams confidence and get themselves believing again but at some point you have to push on from that and AK never pushed on or took that slight gamble in the “belief” that the defence could hold their own.
        What was becoming clear was that without three defensive midfielders our defence wasn’t as good as it appeared but with three defensive midfielders our impetus at the sharp end was severely blunted (back to Ian’s point about quality). Something had to give and in the end it was AK.
        Had he got the players in January he wanted it may have been enough but as we know our January recruitment was an enigma shrouded within a mystery. Gestede was never a Karanka type player and I’m not sure were Guedioura fitted at all in the scheme of things.
        Looking at the tables here if we had (or maybe do?) show a little more intent at Home the outlook could have looked very different. For a promoted side our away record is acceptable and in no small part to that defensive mindset. Small margins as Phil has said.
        http://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england

  42. I agree with Redcar, Karanka’s idea of passing was sideways, backwards, it was never incisive, threatening , forward play.
    He didn’t want to play passing football, he wanted to retain possession at all costs.
    I remember when he first became manager watching Adam Reach against Sheff Wed I think, he had the ball on the left wing in space with the opportunity to run at the full back and put the opposition defence under real pressure.
    But he didn’t, he stopped, checked, looked back and passed backwards. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, I remember saying to my son that he can only have done that because he had been instructed to.
    Karanka was risk averse in the extreme.

    1. I remember that Nigel, it was almost unbelievable to witness but there was a clear fear of being too expansive and maybe losing possession. Better to retain the ball than be rollicked for trying to set up a goal scoring opportunity and maybe losing the ball.
      Defensively AK has improved Ayala, Friend, Gibson and no doubt the likes of Kalas, Amorebeita, Chambers and Nsue etc. even Dimi without a doubt benefited but our midfielders have been castrated and our Strikers are probably in rehab. No wonder happy bubbly Albert was jettisoned after the naughty step didn’t work. Couldn’t have someone having a go at defenders, popping up with the odd goal and worst of all smiling about it enjoying his football when he could have passed back.

      3. RR
        Just one point, this passing in midfield, we have never, during this car crash, ever passed quickly, never, if you want to realise the damage this has done to us, I refer you to Saturdays match.
        As we passed the ball across the field(slowly) the defender walked across to cover the reciever, this meant that we could do it all day and we would never cause a moments trouble to them.
        If you want a reason for our travails look no further than our record against the rubbish(to read it is to blush for our club) remember, the rubbish are like pariah dogs, they know their place and never let a crippled animal escape, ever.

  43. Never Give Up and Redcar Red
    Reach passing backwards and sideways was nowhere near the same league as our short corner and free kick routines.
    The ability to take an attacking free kick and end up with the ball in Valdes hands is truly amazing. That pales in to insignificance when you do the same with a corner – that is real class.
    The opposition got nowhere near the ball. It was a symptom of the way we played, I actually agree with both of you.
    Don’t confuse my concerns with the strength of our squad as support for keeping AK.

  44. To copy and paste something I wrote back in early February:
    “AK (does play) to win – but not in the way that the fan raised on the goals, naked entertainment and speed of the 1990s wants their team to win.
    “With AK’s methodology, it’s like this. To quote Jared Browne’s “Dunphy: A Football Life”:
    “‘Prolonged possession alters the formation of the opposing team by shifting the ball between your own players. When an opening does eventually arise, you then make a decisive move and capitalise on the space created… The ball, and not the player, does the running, while the opposition team is foced to expend energy trying to win back possession. This more nuanced approach to the game also recognises that a sideways or backwards pass can be a progressive pass in that it is reshaping the formation of the opposing team, thus allowing for an eventual opening to occur.’
    “That methodology was applied by Shankly, Paisley, Aragones and Del Bosque and its success spoke for itself. Except…
    “AK’s misguidedness lies in what, to me, is his apparent belief that the current set of players can play this way. They cannot. It is more crucial that he learns to get the best out of what he has rather than shoehorn the players into tactics which will not pay the greatest of dividends. Not right now.
    “I sense his assumption is, ‘if we play like this we’ll be good enough to finish, say, 16th, then we’ll buy better players, finish higher and higher as years go by, and eventually we’ll be competing with the top teams.’
    “Ah yes. Eventually. That’s the problem. How long are fans who spend their hard-earned money going to wait for this development, even if it pays off? I know it disgruntled some to wait an extra season for promotion, come in the end though it did.
    “And I should also add that when Browne wrote his words, Barcelona were still dominant and Spain were set to win their third successive international tournament. Two years later, tiki-taka was passe as a combination of physicality with sparks of individual class came to the fore again.”

  45. I agree Jarkko – I know plenty are saying they saw this coming but when I look back on the 14-game winless run, I find it quite incredible we haven’t won any of them.
    Burnley away
    Man Utd away
    Leicester home
    WBA home
    Everton home
    Swansea away
    Burnley home
    To varying degrees, we could have nicked any number of them – yet we’ve fallen short in every one. Plus another 3 games in the run where we’ve either drawn or lost by one goal.
    I’m not trying to suggest we’ve been unlucky, ultimately we haven’t been good enough – but the margins have been very fine and it looks like we are going to fall short of where we wanted to be.

    1. BP
      There were more games earlier in the season that were even closer. My beef was about AK releasing the handbrake or making his subs earlier to change things. With hindsight now had he have done so I think we could be where Burnley are now or Watford. Our GD wouldn’t look so good but as has been done to death on here GD wasn’t going to keep us up.
      nb. Be prepared to cut and paste that last sentence when we pull off a shock 3-1 win at Anfield on the final day to stay up from Swansea and Hull on GD!

  46. Oh, and further to the DOGSO discussion earlier, the FA website itself says:
    “Can a DOG SO offence outside the penalty area be punished with a caution (YC)?
    (Q11): http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-12—fouls-and-misconduct
    NO – unlike a penalty kick, a free kick is not an obvious chance to score a goal so it does not ‘restore’ the obvious goal-scoring opportunity that was denied by the offence – the disciplinary sanction for all DOGSO offences outside the penalty area remains a sending-off
    So, in other words Sky were talking rubbish.

  47. In spite of my rants, I do understand where RR, Nigel and Ian are coming from.
    Former United boss Dave Sexton once had a public image dominated by boredom, overanalysis and making things too complicated. A Liverpool fan read about that and said that this reminded of him of Rafa Benitez.
    Rafapool, as I call them, were often criticised for their sterility, their overly cautious nature and their excessive pragmatism. All criticisms we can certainly level at AK. I have defended AKBoro in the same way Rafa used to defend his Liverpool – by pointing my finger at a series of stats about clean sheets kept, passes completed, goals scored in relation to chances created, and so on, but, as with AKBoro, that won’t convince fans over what they see with their own eyes.
    There were counter-arguments, that his tactics were masterful in Europe, and that Rafa, like Mourinho, and like AK, simply got more risk-averse with time. Is it just me or did we play with more freedom in 2014-15 than we did in 2015-16? That gorgeous goal against Millwall was never quite replicated.
    But then there is another thought. That while managers like AK, and Rafa, can thrive on their day on the big stage (see: the Etihad, Old Trafford, the Emirates this season), even looking a genuinely solid and sometimes classy outfit, their teams, systematically, are never set up to thrill or entertain. And when the team does thrill or entertain, there are arguments that it’s kind of in spite of AK or Rafa.

  48. Not that it counts for much, but remarkably we will not have scored fewer goals than anyone in PL history. Derby only managed 20 – and one win! – in 2007-08, City, despite staying up, only managed 10 at home in 2006-07. We’re already ahead on both counts.

  49. Redcar Red
    I would assume Albert was offered a similar deal to others in the squad. He was a starter in the first match against Stoke and would have remained so if he had stayed just like he was for the vast majority of games.
    If I remember correctly it was his brother who went public to say Albert wasn’t signing and the deal wasn’t good enough. I think Nicolas Anelka got in to a similar situation with his brother acting for him.
    If you go public that puts the club in a tough spot. They had little choice in the matter, he is not signing his contract, his brother slags the club off and a year left on his contract.
    Finito benito.

    1. Agents and Family often open their mouths, its an unfortunate by-product in today’s game. Ramirez is still here after his agent (not for the first time) started mouthing off.
      My take on it was there were others on better contracts and AA felt he was worth more than some (insert your own guess). I don’t know and have no idea what was discussed but if a Professional Football Club is in its final year with a key player then Plans, B, C and D should have been invoked except there wasn’t any other than an amateurish swapshop type deal.
      Keeping him and letting him go on a Bosman would have been far cheaper and better value for money than some of the signings of late.

  50. Yeah RR, our whole season is littered with close games and missed opportunities. I know you felt at the time of West Brom away that we could have won had we been more ambitious – and you are probably right, but I understand why AK was happy with what he had after the four points from the first two games.
    On the ‘worst performance’ AK quote, I think his point was that we had played better and not won earlier in the season – some of those close games such as Arsenal, West Ham, Leicester, Stoke, Palace probably sprang to mind. One of those many AK quotes lost slightly in translation.

  51. I admire Jarkko’s confidence but have never been convinced that Boro would escape relegation this season as unlike Jarrko I have not enjoyed this season. In my opinion this has seen the most boring football played by Boro in the top flight since 1947. Most supporters of rival Premier League will be glad to see the back of Boro; in my opinion the team have been an embarassment to the best league in Europe. On a different tack I wonder what would happen if teams went back to basics; by that I mean 235.I can remember when Boro had five forwards – Spuhler, McCormack, Fenton, Mannion, Walker in the old first division and later Day, McLean, Clough, Peacock, Holliday in the second tier. Yes defensively we were poor but we scored 70+ goals in the top league and once scored 90 in the second tier and by God we were exciting! Nowadays the Premier League is of a higher standard (Boro excepted) but would it be more exciting if extra points were awarded for goals scored; for example a 4-0 win would attract 7 points, a 0-0 draw nil points, but a 3-3 draw 3 points each, and a 2-3 defeat 2 points to the losing team? A bit like extra points for tries scored in Rugby Union, but of course it will never happen!

    1. Ken Smith :
      Your new points system, what a great idea, why hasn’t anyone thought of it before ? Pity we can’t stipulate a 532 system too.
      Suggest also revert back to 10 mins half-time to give additional 5 mins drinking time 🍺

  52. BP
    The worst performance quote was still a massive faux pas on AK’s part. If he really wanted to lift our confidence at Christmas he shouldn’t have used those two words at all, lost in translation or not.
    It was one of those unfortunate AK moments where you asked, “Seriously, Aitor, what the heck are you doing?”

    1. Yeah, I know what you mean and AK definitely struggled when it came to communicating with the media and the fans. But I think some people are wilfully misinterpreting it for their own agenda. (file alongside ‘have a go’) I think we all know what he was trying to say and I’m sure the players realised.

  53. Redcar Red
    What is factual is he was offered a new contract, his brother opened his mouth, he had one year left on his contract.
    Your take on it may be correct but if he had walked on a Bosman the blog wound have been littered with angst.

  54. On the points system, I’ve long been an advocate of Goal Difference being the best form of points (AK would love this) with perhaps awarding an extra point for winning a match. This would mean even if you are 9-0 down you have something to play for and every match would be competitive for 90 minutes.

  55. I often felt AK was a symptom of the times. The quality of the football at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 was high in the group stages, but got largely, though not entirely, overwhelmed by negativity in the knock outs. Daring to win was mostly sidelined as teams became too scared of not losing. Which made the greater openness from the likes of Colombia, Algeria and the USA refreshing. Especially Algeria and the USA – they weren’t *supposed* to beat the Great Germany or Belgium’s Golden Generation, so they just gave it a go. And how much better the games were for it.
    Hence, I think, it’s no coincidence that AKBoro were a little more liberated in 2014-15 than they were in 2015-16. As commanding a collective as we could be in that promotion season, there was no doubt the football was less obviously easy on the eye. Maybe we were inhibited by greater backing and the fear of messing up a promotion bid.

  56. It seems there will always be two camps on here regarding the attractiveness or otherwise of our performances.
    You’ll not be surprised that I veer towards the RR and Nigel view.
    I said recently that you can admire good defensive displays and we did that in Big Jack’s day but the difference between his and AK’s teams was that the 73/74 boys were also good going forward. For a number of reasons, that has been a rarity under AK, which leaves us having to accept all out defence as our default tactic, hence the negative comments.
    Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it seems clear that we effectively stumbled towards promotion on goal difference. Could we realistically expect to continue in that vein and survive in the PL.
    As I said yesterday, SG has a difficult task on his hands finding the right man to re-energise our ailing club.

  57. Steely, that’s if SG is still the owner of the club next season, I like OFB have heard that he is selling the club or a large part of it. Maybe his daughter getting slagged off on twitter when she tried to defend his motives was the straw that broke the camels back ! After reading or being told about the calls for him to go (including on this site) maybe he has had enough and if he does sell, maybe the words “the town will get a club it deserves” will come to fruition. Some people will be happy but for how long and they will probably not bother going to matches anyway.
    Come on BORO.

  59. Exmil
    That is why I like people to engage brain before they post. The perils of new media. Folks get it off their chest but once posted it wont go away, it is in the public domain. As the saying goes, beware of what you wish for.
    If he leaves what happens to the £99m of debt absorbed by the parent company? Of course Steve Gibson didn’t want access to £170m from being in the premiership when he could just keep dipping in to his own pocket.
    It beggars belief, there are some ungrateful wretches about.
    Each to their own.

  63. That is the problem, I was that busy posting sideways and backwards I didn’t get in to the box.
    By the way, what is the box? Is it related to those white sticks with Sweet Pea netting?

    1. I for one would be devastated if Steve Gibson sold out and can’t believe those who give him and his family anxt on Twitter
      We wouldn’t have a club if it hadn’t been for him

  66. I am not more optimistic than others on survival. After last week.
    Just saying we are not yet gone down. And mainly because there are as bad team as us.
    But I can dream, can’t I? Up the Boro!

  68. Redcar Red
    Typical Boro comes in many forms, the striker who hasn’t scored for four months, the team that has lost the last four away matches – oops, Arsenal!

  69. I never understand the people who give up even when there is a mathematical chance (I saw some stats on Twitter yesterday which put our chances at 4%) – I suppose if it is to not get their hopes up fair enough, but I don’t expect us to stay up (similar to Jarkko I guess), and we might as well keep fighting until there is absolutely no chance.

  71. Just watched the clip of Forshaw’s goal against Reading set to Benny Hill music.
    I remember listening to Radio Tees commentary and the drama was incredible

  73. I think a win against Arsenal is another “backside in Binns window” moment. Would like the same result as then but would think it’s even more unlikely as Arsenal have a point to prove.

  74. Steely, I think you’re right.
    In a massive way, I think that 3-0 loss at Palace is a worse result for us than we initially thought. It’s going to fire Arsenal up still more for their next game – against us.

  77. RR, are we favourites against Arsenal now? Wender lost three away matches in a row for the first time in his Arsenal career spanning over 21 seasons. Not a good omen for the Boro ..
    Still, up the Boro!

  80. My wife & I were musing on the effects of time as our daughter turned 20 today. Reminding ourselves where we were, our circumstances and situation.
    Once we beheld a small fleshy bundle that brought tears of joy to our eyes. Now we see a young woman blosseming, with her own ideas, dreams & thoughts on her own destiny.How the metamorphesis has run its course.
    And so it is with the Boro. A club that has seen success and failure. Great highs and lows have come its way. We as supporters, a loose family of emotional identity and affilliation, watch and cheer or boo the club we love..
    Ups or downs, I have little doubt that most of us will be there for the Boro next season. Just like my wife and I will be there for our daughter, Emily.
    🙂

    2. Spartak
      You old softie !
      You’ve just noticed that there is more to life than supporting the Boro no matter what people say family come first (then the Boro)
      Yes I’ll be there next season I’ve renewed even though Mrs OFB objected to us both going we shall overcome
      Happy Birthday to your darling daughter you see we are all lucky aren’t we ?

  81. I just worry about our recruitment for next season wherever we will be
    De Sart can’t get his game at Derby under Rowett
    De Pena ever looked like being part of the first team
    Fischer still hasn’t made the grade and Geidiora not up to speed with Boro tactics
    Now I have a lot of respect for the Northern League but I cannot see the signing of two players from that league will make much impact in the first team next season
    Gibson will probably go together with Negredo Valdez Chambers and Ramirez
    Guzan is already going and Leadbitter is out of contract
    A club will probably come on for Adama and will De Roon stay?
    All in all a massive rebuilding job for our next manager

    1. OFB……not a nice storyline. As you say Gibson, Negrado, Chambers, Guzan and Ramirez will leave for sure. Valdes may stay, but his wages would be very high for the Championship even with the parachute payments. Problem of course is we got him on a free and just cannot see a la Liga club being able to afford his wages. We may just be stuck with him.
      Leadbitter, maybe a year contract as a squad player? De Roon, will he want to stay, but then who would buy him at EPL wages and we would have to take one big hit on the transfer fee.
      My brother has bet me Adama will leave for 10mil+. I think someone may take a punt, but only at what we paid for him, if that.
      Then of the rest, how many are good enough even for the Championship?Barragan, Bernardo, Fischer, De Sart, Guedioura, Husband??
      Ayala injury prone with at least a couple of years contract left, Friend looking to be similar.
      Downing struggled somewhat in that first year and it is now two years on.
      So up front to score all those goals to get us promotion, as the defence will not be as tight as under AK, Stuani, Gestede and Bamford. And very little creativity.
      You can see lots of gaps even without some of the others leaving. So lots of goings and comings,picking a system that suits the Head Coach next season and I am getting nervous already.

      1. Pedro
        Sorry didn’t mean to make you nervous .
        Just do what I did and had a nice spag Bol with a bottle of red and all is right with the world again…

    2. Bob
      Don’t do this to us!
      Only last week you were saying how we had the basis of a decent Championship side. I disagreed but that doesn’t mean you can now come back on here bursting the very bubble that you yourself inflated. We need all the hope we can cling to amongst the Premiership flotsam and jetsam. 🙂
      nb:
      “Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident”.
      “Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship’s load”.

        1. John
          If any of the Boro scouts are reading this they’re probably going to have a look at the stats and try and sign flotsam and jetsam for next season!

      2. Sorry about that RR I lost one of my foam hands I think the dog must have been playing with it and I’m lost without it.
        Now I’ve put them on again I am playing the Boro song
        “I can see clearly now the rain has gone”
        and all my worries disappear

  82. OFB
    I agree with your post at 3.25 and would also add that Dimi is out of contract as well.
    Not sure what will happen re Meijas will he return to MFC or stay in Spain.
    Interestingly you say a major re-building job for our next manager. Are you suggesting that SA will not be given the role on a permanent basis?

    2. KP
      It’s anyone’s guess about how the managerial roundabout is going to play out now!
      The situation of Plan A and Plan B turned into Plan X overnight and I don’t think it was forward planning……

  84. OFB de Sart is not getting a game for Derby because Rowlett has told him he is a loan player and as Derby are not even going to make the play offs, Rowlett wants to assess the players he will have next season, so it is totally unfair to infer that de Sart isn’t good enough to play for Derby.
    I repeat what I have said previously that I think I would like to see de Roon, de Sart, de Silva, Fischer be part of the Boro first team next season, along with Gestede, Bamford and Valdez. Also I would keep Clayton, Friend, Husband, Stuani, Espinosa, Adama, Fry
    Come on BORO.

    1. Exmil
      I knew why DeSart wasn’t playing but if he was a great player wouldn’t any manager play him?
      We should call him back if his loan agreement lets him he might as well train with our first team as Derby
      All these players with De
      Come on De Boro

    1. Mmmm Roberto Martinez??
      His name has been mentioned in the corridors of power as I sat quietly in trap 2 overhearing the whispered conversations!

  86. New Keeper (or Ripley)
    Fabio
    Ayala
    Espinosa/Fry
    Friend
    Fischer
    Clayton
    Forshaw
    Downing
    Gestede
    Bamford
    That doesn’t look a bad Championship team to me with only one new first XI starter. And between the loss of Valdes, Negredo, Chambers, Gibson, De Roon, Leadbitter, Ramirez, Traore (and Stuani?) plus parachute payments, there’s a lot of cash to add to the squad.. Well over £100m.
    That is all assuming we still go down., which is 95% likely but not 100%. Yet.

      1. True.
        Though there’s Ripley/Meijas, Barragan, Espinosa/Fry, Baptiste, Husband, Chapman (?), de Sart, Guediora plus some others I’m sure I’ve forgotten.
        So it’s up to us how many we want to bring in. Could be as few as 4. And we could probably get them all for the cost of Negredo in terms of wages.

  87. Well just arrived for an Easter visit to Teesside today after a 24 hour road trip via Rotterdam and Hull. Shortly before setting off I started putting together a re-boot of some satirical posts that I made on Untypical Boro that covered some of the more bizarre moments of Aitor Karanka’s reign – Including Higgy-gate, Charton-gate and Leo’s Ball grab on the sidelines. So here is a slightly belated midweek post to lighten the gloom ahead of another Boro ‘really-really-must-win-not-joking-this-time’ game…
    https://diasboro.club/2017/04/13/satirical-karanka-highlights/

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